April - 17 To April - 18

Country : CZECH REPUBLIC Population 10,391,000 Peoples Slavic 98.7%. Czech 9,853,000 (inc. some Slovak); Polish 40,000. Other 1.3%. Gypsy 50,000; German 47,000. Literacy 99%. Official language: Czech. All languages 6. Languages with Scriptures 5Bi. Cities Capital: Prague 1,215,000. Urbanization 76% Economy Highly industrialized but Communism degraded quality. Rapid economic development with considerable German investment since 1990. Rapid privatization of industry, trade and property. Unemployment 3%. Income/person $7,200 (34% of USA). Politics Czechoslovakia formed in 1918. A Communist coup in 1948 led to Stalinist repression until 1963. The Dubcek government's attempts at liberalization provoked USSR invasion of 1968 and reimposition of hard-line Communism. Peaceful protests brought about the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989. This "velvet revolution" was followed by rapid democratization and then by the peaceful "velvet divorce" creating two new republics at the beginning of 1993. The Czech Republic aspires to early membership of the EC. Religion Communist repression, infiltration and manipulation of the Churches and leadership was particularly severe -- and effective. Complete religious freedom in Czech Republic since 1990. Figures below include both republics. Non-religious/other 26.8%. Jews 0.03%. Only 5,000 remain of 360,000 in 1938; most killed in Holocaust, some emigrated to Israel. Christian 73.2%. Nom 18.8%. Affil 54.4%. Growth -1%. Protestant 6%. Affil 5.2%. Growth -2%. Catholic 63%. Affil 47.3%. Catholic figures 72.5%. Gro -0.7%. Other Catholic 3.4%. Affil 1.2%. Growth -5.9%. Orthodox 0.7%. Affil 0.64%. Growth -8%. Marginal 0.12%. Growth 8%. 1. Praise God for peaceful liberation from the yoke of Communism. The grim legacy of that system, though discredited, is a moral and spiritual vacuum. Sadly, Marxist propaganda and a generally tamed and compromised church leadership made the Church a less-preferred option to the average secularized Czech (and Slovak) once freedom was restored. New Age and eastern cultic teachings have found a more ready hearing, even among many churchgoers. Pray for spiritual awakening that will restore the tarnished image of the Church. 2. The wounds inflicted by Communism on the Churches will take time to heal. Many leaders compromised -- often under duress, but this frequently followed theological compromise too. Liberal theology has been widespread in the larger churches, and the majority of adherents are nominal. Of the 73% of those who claim to be Christian, only 16% of Catholics and 14% of Protestants are regular churchgoers. Most active Christians are the old and the young -- those in between are few in number. Few churches in the former Communist bloc are more in need of a renewing work of the Holy Spirit. 3. Czech Protestants have suffered waves of persecution for nearly six centuries -- the great early reformer Jan Hus was martyred in 1415. Culturally and traditionally the Protestant Churches have an important place in the history of the nation. Pray that this may also become true spiritually. Pray also for evangelical congregations within the larger denominations and also for smaller evangelical denominations such as the Baptists and the small, but growing, Pentecostal movements. Charismatic renewal has made considerable progress in some denominations. 4. Leaders with the precious combination of spirituality and adequate biblical training are too few. For decades little training was permitted -- especially in biblical theology. Pray for the Hus, Comenius and Bratislava Theological faculties where most pastors are trained -- but evangelical teachers are few. TEE programmes run by both Evangelicals and Pentecostals for years can now develop into Bible schools. Pray that these may be fully developed and that such schools become a source of godly preachers of the Good News. This is the major area for foreign missionary involvement. 5. New freedom to evangelize has not been used as it could have been. The growth in churches has not been large, and initiatives have been fragmented and with little coordination. Pray for the Evangelical Alliance formed in 1991, and for effective cooperation between Evangelicals in leadership training, literature and evangelism. One of the great needs is for a national survey of the churches and the unchurched. Pray for a re-birth of vision among Christians for the complete evangelization of both republics. 6. Young people are searching for life-satisfying answers, but are often cynical and apathetic about Christianity. Churches have to redevelop ministry programmes for children and young people -- the Baptist churches have made great strides in this. Religious education in schools is required in both republics. Pray that teachers with spiritual life may minister life in the classrooms. SU is developing ministry and Bible clubs in schools and IFES in universities in both republics, with the beginnings of groups in five of 11 universities in Bohemia and eight out of nine in Slovakia. 7. Christian literature may now be freely printed locally and imported, but the range and quality of indigenous writings are still limited. The Bible Society has been established, and Bibles and New Testaments have been selling well. The Navrat Christian Publishing House has been set up in Prague. EHC plans on a literature distribution to every home in Prague, and then the whole country. Christian literature is being widely distributed in schools. Pray that the impact of the written page may remould the people and build the Church. 8. Christian radio and television programmes on national networks are possible, and this ministry could probably be expanded if more personnel with vision and better funding were available. TWR is expanding its contacts and programme sources in both republics with 5.5 hours/week in Czech and 4 hours/week in Slovak. HCJB(WRMF)-Ecuador also broadcasts 5.5 and 3 hours/week, respectively. Pray that these media might be effectively used to uplift Jesus and counteract error.   Country : SLOVAKIA Population 5,334,000 Peoples Slavic 81.2%. Slovak 4,981,000 (including some Czech); Ruthenian 100,000; Russian/Ukrainian 60,000; Polish 38,000. Hungarian 11.2%. In south adjoining Hungary. Other 7.6%. Gypsy 350,000. Literacy 99%. Official languages: Slovak; locally, Hungarian (still being debated). All languages 9. Languages with Scriptures 5Bi 1NT 2por. Cities Capital: Bratislava 440,000. Urbanization 76%. Economy Dependent on archaic heavy industry, and hesitant about the heavy social and economic cost of more radical Czech privatization plans. Economy stagnating without foreign investment. Unemployment 11%. Income/person $5,960 (28% of USA). Politics Nationalist parties, most being reformed Communists, won elections that led to break-up of federation with Czech Republic. Some fear that a more socialist and protectionist nationalism could lead to economic decline and clashes with Hungary over development of the massive Danube hydroelectric project and restrictions on the culture of the large Hungarian minority. Religion There is now religious freedom. About 75% of Slovaks claim to be Christian -- mostly Catholic. 1. Slovakia faces an uncertain future. Pray that the leaders in addressing the new nation may show restraint and wisdom in solving the severe economic crisis and the question of the large, and anxious, Hungarian ethnic minority. There is a general sense of frustration caused by loss of national identity. Pray that this may cause many to be more open to the Lord. 2. Protestants are a small minority in a land that is 60% Catholic. Pray that the witness and outreach of evangelical churches and believers might grow and bear fruit, and that appropriate evangelism will take priority over internal structures and organizational activities. 3. The despised Gypsy population is isolated from the mainstream of Slovak life, and is the least reached section of the population. Most are nominal Christians, but there are a few evangelical believers. Pray that Gypsy evangelists and missionaries from other lands may be called for ministry in Slovakia.